KEY POINTS
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UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, will visit Zimbabwe following key sanctions removals and a symbolic cricket match between Zimbabwe and England.
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The visit is expected to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties, with potential new agreements in trade and investment.
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Officials are discussing a full England cricket tour to Zimbabwe and broader bilateral cooperation, marking a major thaw in decades-long tensions.
Diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom appear to be entering a new era of rapprochement as British Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, prepares for a landmark visit to Harare.
According to Herald Online, the anticipated trip follows a series of symbolic and strategic developments that point to warming ties between the two historically linked nations.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, revealed the news of Lord Collins’ visit via his official social media handle after the two met during the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings held in Ivory Coast.
“Having lunch with Lord Collins, UK Minister for Africa, in Ivory Coast at AfDB Annual Meeting 2025. We discussed a wide range of issues. Very pleased that he removed sanctions on individuals and ZDI today. His upcoming visit to Zimbabwe will further strengthen relations,” Ncube wrote, sharing a photo of the meeting.
The announcement follows a significant policy shift by the British government: the removal of sanctions on four Zimbabwean officials—Owen Ncube, Isaac Moyo, Godwin Matanga, and Anselem Sanyatwe—as well as the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI). This action mirrors similar moves by the European Union in February 2025 and the United States in March 2024.
In a parallel development that has sparked excitement among Zimbabweans and cricket enthusiasts globally, the historic one-off Test match between Zimbabwe and England at Trent Bridge was successfully concluded last week. The game marked the first official fixture between the two sides since bilateral cricket relations were severed in 2008 due to political tensions.
Zimbabwe Cricket officials reportedly used the high-profile occasion to initiate discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) about a possible tour of Zimbabwe—potentially in the next Future Tours Programme cycle (2027–2031). Talks are already underway to host matches at a new international-standard cricket venue near Victoria Falls, aligning sports diplomacy with tourism development.
“This match was more than a game—it was a bridge to restoring people-to-people ties and institutional trust,” said a senior Zimbabwe Cricket official familiar with the talks.
Economic significance of Collins’ visit
Lord Collins’ trip is expected to reinforce recent investment dialogues and create opportunities for further bilateral cooperation in trade, education, and governance. While specifics of his agenda in Zimbabwe are yet to be released, analysts suggest it may include discussions on development financing, climate partnerships, and trade facilitation.
Economic ties between the two nations have historically been shaped by tensions dating back to Zimbabwe’s land reform programme in the early 2000s. However, recent economic reforms by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, coupled with global realignments, have made room for renewed engagement.
A senior diplomat at the Zimbabwe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaking anonymously, said the visit “signals a pragmatic turn in UK-Zimbabwe relations and may open doors for further reintegration into global financial systems.”
Zimbabweans have responded to these developments with cautious optimism. Civil society actors and business leaders say sanctions relief and diplomatic engagement are welcome, but they must translate into tangible economic opportunities and improved governance.
Human rights groups, however, warn that diplomatic warming should not come at the expense of accountability, urging the UK to continue supporting civil liberties and transparency in Zimbabwe.
“Economic diplomacy must be matched with efforts to ensure democratic reforms. A reset should not mean a blind eye to violations,” said a representative from the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum.
As preparations for Lord Collins’ visit gain momentum, the next few months may prove pivotal in reshaping how Zimbabwe repositions itself in the global arena—no longer as a pariah, but as a partner.
